The effect of enzyme concentration on the rate of amylase and starch reaction.

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The effect of enzyme concentration on the rate of amylase and starch reaction.

Introduction

An enzyme is a protein that is produced by cells and act as a catalyst in specific biochemical reactions. An enzyme is a biological catalyst, which increases the rate of reaction. A catalyst can be used over and over again in a chemical reaction. Enzymes are similar but they denature easily.

There are 2 main types of enzymes called breakers and builders. Breaker-enzymes speed up the reaction of a large molecule being broken down into smaller molecules. These enzymes are useful in digestion. There are 3 main enzymes in our digestive system; carbohydrates which can break down carbohydrates into glucose, protease which break down proteins into amino acids and lipase which breaks down fat into fatty acids and glycerol. Builder-enzymes speed up the rate of reaction of smaller molecules joining together to make larger ones. These enzymes build important molecules inside our cells.

It speeds up chemical reactions; each enzyme has a unique shape that determines its function. One enzyme works on one type of substrate. The enzyme, Amylase has a shape that allows itself to wrap around starch (substrate) and cut it up into individual glucose units.

Enzymes are very sensitive to the conditions at which they work. Many enzymes work best at a particular PH and stop working if the PH becomes to acidic or alkaline. Enzymes are also temperature sensitive. Most enzymes denature at high temperatures due to breaking hydrogen bonds in the protein structure. (Most enzymes at 60˚c)

In this experiment we will be working with breaker enzymes. This is how breaker enzymes work:

Prediction

For my prediction, I would say that I think, as I increase the amylase reaction the rate of reaction would increase. By adding enzymes, we lower down the activation energy for any reaction, activation energy is a minimum amount of energy required by any reaction to occur. In giving volume you are increasing the number of active sites.

Millions of collisions between particles will lead to be a reaction. The successful collisions are the ones where the particles hit “head on” and the particles contain enough energy. This is called the collision theory.

In many reactions the collisions will not be converted into a product unless it is temporarily given some extra energy. This extra energy is called the activation energy. Every chemical reaction has to overcome the activation energy in living organisms and allow the reactions to proceed at body temperature (37˚c)

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The enzyme and substrate must fit together like a lock and a key. If the fit is not exact the reaction will not occur. The diagram below shows the lock and key theory:

Overall, substrate concentration will only increase the reaction rate until all of it is bound to enzyme molecules. Enzymes must bind with a substrate and form an enzyme substrate complex before products can be produced. If the concentration of substrate is low, enzymes will bind with all the substrate. The remaining enzymes will be unable to bind with any substrate and ...

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